Former Rawlins Mayor Talks Wind Energy Tax Credits

JUNE 26, 2025 |

Photo – Wind turbine – Bigfoot99 file photo

Former Mayor Terry Weickum briefed the Rawlins City Council on the potential impact of federal tax credit cuts on local wind energy projects.

During the June 17th Rawlins City Council meeting, former Mayor, Terry Weickum, explained that he was invited to Washington D.C. by a lobby group called United Today Stronger Tomorrow.

The organization is composed of representatives from western states, including Wyoming. Representatives from the wind energy group met with Wyoming Senators Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso to discuss the most recent House Reconciliation Bill, which eliminates tax credits for clean energy development.

Former Mayor Weickum said federal tax credits for all renewable energy projects, including wind, are set to expire at the beginning of July. The House of Representatives gave developers 60 days to complete their projects before the tax credits come off the books.

Unlike the past few presidents, Donald Trump is not a fan of wind energy.

Weickum said that clean energy tax credits have been in place since 2005, during the George W. Bush administration. Instead of abruptly ending the tax relief programs after 60 days, Weickum said United Today Stronger Tomorrow is urging lawmakers to phase the subsidies out slowly. The group also requested the bill be rewritten to allow projects already under development to continue receiving the tax benefits. Weickum said the bill, as written, will negatively impact wind energy projects here in Carbon County.

Weickum said the Chokecherry Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project could be threatened by the loss of the tax credits. With both commercial and residential tax cuts set to expire, the former mayor said many renewable energy companies may be forced to close.

Weickum said the City of Laramie is currently installing solar panels on its city hall. The former mayor added that the contractor handling the project may go out of business if the tax credits are eliminated.

Weickum said that without the federal tax credits, upcoming renewable energy projects could face decades-long delays or be cancelled altogether.

The House Reconciliation Bill contains measures targeting Foreign Entities of Concern. The provision is designed to prevent companies with ties to certain foreign adversaries, such as China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, from benefiting from U.S. clean energy tax credits.

Speaking to the Rawlins City Council, former mayor Terry Weickum said the Foreign Entities of Concern Act will undermine many sectors of the American economy, including wind energy development in Wyoming.

Weickum added that the House Reconciliation Bill also eliminates the ability to transfer clean energy tax credits between businesses, preventing small and medium-sized projects from using the credits to secure additional funding.

Weickum urged the public, including the Rawlins City Council, to contact their representatives and oppose the elimination of the clean energy tax credits.